RIP Paul Walker

By: Katherine A. '14       

Photo courtesy of foxnews.com

      About a month ago, the Fast and Furious actor Paul Walker tragically passed away and left millions heart-broken. Born on September 12, 1973, Paul has been acting ever since the age of 14. On November 30, 2013 Paul was attending a Charity called Reach Out Worldwide in Los Angeles. Paul loved being a part of charities and lending his help, but that was the last charity he attended. That afternoon, Walker and a friend by the name of Roger Rodas got into a Porsche 50 miles within the charity and crashed violently into a tree. The car immediately burst into flames. Reps say that there were people trying to save them, including Walker’s best friend but it was far too late.    
       The Fast and Furious franchise is what made Walker famous. The directors of Fast and Furious confirmed that the writers of Fast and Furious 7, the latest movie will be rewritten to give Paul Walker a proper and heartfelt goodbye. They will take footage that has already been recorded and exit his character off the series. Fast and Furious 7 will be hitting theaters in July 2014.
     Although he passed almost one month ago, Paul Walker will continue to inspire others by his words of wisdom. He had once said “If one day the speed kills me, do not cry because I was smiling.” He has absolutely made his mark on the world and has influenced many along his way.  He has certainly lived a “Fast and Furious” life, but we will always remember him as person who took the time to help others. May Paul Walker and Roger Rodas rest in peace. 

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire: Review

By: Lauren J. ‘16

Photo courtesy of wordpress.com

         Attention all Hunger Games fans! The Hunger Games was released on March 23, 2012, and got such great feedback. Since then, popular demand sparked the making of a second movie based on the second book of the trilogy by Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.  This second movie was released on November 22, 2013, and is still popular in theaters well into December. As of December 12, 2013, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire has earned a total of $342,022,652 in North America and a total of $336,700,000 internationally, which all together is $678,722,652. As you can see, this is an incredible amount of money earned, especially since the movie got these numbers in a little less than a month.

Photo courtesy of filmthrasher.com

In this movie, Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson return as Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark. Other actors such as Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks and Lenny Kravitz reappear as the same characters, as in the past movie. What makes Catching Fire unique and different from the previous movie is that this new movie has a twist. Katniss and Peeta win their victory in The 74th Annual Hunger Games, and they think everything is going relatively well, but they are wrong. As they are going on their victors tour, they start to see a revolution coming into play. They now get news that they have to compete in another hunger games called, The 75th Hunger Games, the Quarter Quell. This Quarter Quell is even more dangerous and risky than the last one, but will Katniss and Peeta survive? You will just have to find for yourself by seeing this wonderful and outstanding movie, with many new twists and turns!  

Christmas Break Ideas

By: Lacey S. '16 and Michelle R. '15 

Photo courtesy of newyorksightseeingtours.com

Who’s ready for Christmas Break? What do you plan on doing for these two weeks besides catching up on sleep? There are so many things you can do during the Christmas season! You can spend a day in the city, go see the tree, window shop on 5th Avenue, ice skate for free in Bryant Park, and finish the day with a warm hot chocolate. Also some new movies will be coming out over the break. Frozen, Delivery Man, and Maeda’s Christmas are all in theaters or coming out soon! Make sure you pick a day and try the new holiday drinks at Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, and Beans & Leaves! You could also go see a play on Broadway, like the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. In addition you could come support your gators as they take on other high schools in various sports. There's lots to do over our two week break, so get out and stay warm!  

Christmas!

By: Nazira A. '14      

           As it is celebrated in this millennium, Christmas is a holiday based on hundreds of years of both secular and religious traditions.  It is estimated that over 2 billion people worldwide celebrate Christmas in some way!

           Christmas is a time to get together with our families and friends and give gifts to show how much we value and appreciate each other.  Biblically, Christians believe that some 2,013 years ago, three wise men visited Jesus, who’s birth had been prophesized, to bestow on the newly-born King of heaven and earth the finest gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 

           Some families celebrate only the secular features of Christmas, such as decorating with a tree, Santa, and characters created in the past 50-60 years, like Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer. Christian families sometimes choose to celebrate only the religious aspects including decorating with a nativity scene and angels heralding the news of the birth of their Savior, Jesus Christ.  Still other families enjoy celebrating it all!

            There are some especially Victorian traditions which include Christmas caroling and roasting chestnuts in a hearth burning brightly with a Yuletide log.  The most common traditions can be traced to a generous and jolly, white-bearded portly man wearing red robes, matching hat, and black boots and belt.  The custom of hanging stockings from the fireplace mantle is part of legends surrounding Saint Nicholas, fondly referred to as ole St. Nick and also known as Father Christmas, Santa Claus (Dutch) and Kris Kringle (Austrian/German).

            By whatever name he is called, children the world over anticipate receiving the gifts they asked Santa to bring them on Christmas Eve, toys created by elves in the North Pole and delivered on a sleigh driven by flying reindeer!  With a magical gleam in their eyes, they believe that Santa has a list of good and bad children and that Santa will climb down the fireplace and leave them coal if they had been bad.

            No matter how Christmas is celebrated, it is a season when people are kinder and more generous to the needy.  It is a wonderful season which creates memories to last a lifetime as we enjoy making merry, being of good cheer and hoping for the peace on earth and good will toward man promised by Christ’s birth.